Fall rivalry renewed, defending champion wins first two games

By Justin Combs, Staff Writer

Intramural basketball tipped off the season with returning champions Short Bus, now aptly named Swagga, winning their first two games back to back.

Swagga defeated Pretty Bois 73-51 by playing the fast-break defense, and keeping up the hustle throughout the entire game.

The first time out was taken with 11-minutes left in the first half with a score of 16-5.

Swagga kept the pressure on as Tony Carter fought off three Pretty Bois under the basket to make a lay up, making the game 18-5 with 10:30 left in the first half.

Swagga proved themselves worthy of their title from last season leading the end of the first half 43-23.

Team captain for Swagga, Josh Vanover, kept pushing his players and letting them know about sloppy playing, even with a 20-point lead.

“We played this team last semester and they got out on us quick in the first game of the season,” Vanover said during the half-time breather.

“I told my guys, ‘lets get out on them fast.’ So we did a lot of fast breaking, taking it to the hoop,” Vanover said about what he wanted his team to focus on.

Vanover said his team did end up getting a little tired by the end of the first half, which slowed them down a little defensively.

In the second half, the Pretty Bois took advantage of the hustle Swagga played with in the first half, leaving them a little gassed out. They closed in on Swagga 59-51.

But it wasn’t enough for the Pretty Bois, Swagga went on a 22-0 run, to win the game 73-51.

Swagga had a ten-minue break before, facing the Free Agents in the second game.

In that game the score margin remained tight, but Swagga gained a 10-point lead by the 3-minute mark with the Free Agents trailing 26-16.

In the second half, the Free Agents turned up their playing, trailing 1 point behind the Swagga, 38-37 with 14 minutes left in the game.

With 9:26 left in the game Swagga took a time out with the Free Agents close to stealing the game, trailing 2 points 47-45.

It wasn’t enough to stop the Swagga from getting their second win of the day and the season.

Swagga defeated the Free Agents 61-53. The Swagga is off to a good start early in the season.

Staff Writer Justin Combs can be reached at StaffWriter2@occc.edu.